Under the Hood with Cognos Analytics R5: Say Hello to Portal Tabs Replacement

UNDER THE HOOD WITH
COGNOS ANALYTICS R5
Say Hello to Portal Tabs Replacement

• Introductions
• Customizations
– Portal Tab Replacement
– Extensions
• Navigation Paths
• Mapping
– Today
– Tomorrow
• Release 6 Update
• About Senturus
• Additional Information
• Q&A
Agenda
Copyright 2017 Senturus, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Presenters
Jim Frazier
VP of Client Solutions
Senturus, Inc.
Todd Schuman
Practice Lead
Installations, Upgrades,
and Optimization
Senturus, Inc.

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This slide deck is from the webinar: Under the Hood
with Cognos Analytics R5
To view the FREE video recording, download this deck or
read the Q & A go to:
http://www.senturus.com/resources/under-the-hood-
with-cognos-analytics-r5/
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Portal Tab Replacement Using Extensions
CUSTOMIZATIONS

Portal Tabs in Cognos BI 8/10
• Search
• Websites/intranet
• Report/dashboard
viewer/landing
page
• Security – limit
access
• Remove public
folder

Cognos Analytics - Search
Search
• Vastly superior to Cognos
BI 10
• No need to run index jobs
• Auto complete
• Save searches
Recent
• Every report you run

Cognos Analytics – Landing Page
Users can ”set as home”
• Report or dashboard
• Run report or dashboard,
click ellipsis to set
• My preferences, home
page, reset to default to
revert back
Administrators can “set as
home”
• Cognos groups only
• Available in R5
• Manage -> accounts

Cognos Analytics – Customizations
• [Install Directory]/samples/extensions
• Samples available
⎼ Button Folders
⎼ Button Report/Dashboard
⎼ Button Website
⎼ Context Menu
• .zip format
⎼ Extract
⎼ Modify
⎼ Zip
⎼ Upload

Cognos Analytics – Sample JSON
{
"name":"Senturus_Button_Folder",
"schemaVersion": "1.0",
"extensions": [
{
"perspective": "common",
"comment": "There is a special meta perspective called COMMON.
Adding contributions to this perspective will cause the extension
to be applied to All perspectives.",
"features": [{
"id": "sample.common.button.openFolder",
"toolItems": [
{
"comment": "This code adds a button to easily access an important
folder.",
"id": "sample.folder.opener",
"containerId": "com.ibm.bi.glass.navbarLeadingGroup",
"label": "Security reports",
"type": "Button",
"icon": "common-folder",
"weight": 700,
"push": "true",
"comment": "The greater the weight, the higher the item will
appear in the container.",
"actionController": "bi/glass/api/FolderOpener",
"options": {"path": ".public_folders/Security"}
},
{
"comment": "This code adds a button to easily access an important
folder.",
"id": "sample.folder.opener2",
"containerId": "com.ibm.bi.glass.navbarLeadingGroup",
"label": "Development reports",
"type": "Button",
"icon": "common-folder",
"weight": 800,
"push": "true",
"comment": "The greater the weight, the higher the item will
appear in the container.",
"actionController": "bi/glass/api/FolderOpener",
"options": {"path": ".public_folders/Development"}
}
]
}]
}]}
Spec.JSON Description
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecent
er/en/SSEP7J_11.0.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.
ag_manage.doc/c_ag_manage_json.html

Cognos Analytics – Customize Accounts
Administrators can now control
• Home page
• Features
• Themes
Create Cognos groups
• Add in AD groups/users
• Assign home page, UI features
• Set priorities
Extensions can be enabled/disabled
• Grant/restrict access to folders
• Restrict access to team content
• Restrict new content creation

Cognos Analytics – Still a Work in Progress
Team content still available
• Unable to hide
• Can be restricted access
Unable to absorb multiple group customizations
• Priority decides conflict
Cognos namespace only

Demo

To view the FREE video recording and download this
deck, go to:
http://www.senturus.com/resources/under-the-hood-
with-cognos-analytics-r5/
The Senturus comprehensive library of recorded
webinars, demos, white papers, presentations and case
studies is available on our website:
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Hear the Recording

Navigation Paths
• Create with data modules
• Access with dashboard
• Special context icon
• Break free from dimensional
modeling

• Visualizations
⎼ Dynamic map (older)
⎼ MapBox (one with pin)
• Dashboard only
• State level shape
coloring
Mapping - Today

• City and zip code color
boundary
• Available in reporting
• MapBox customizations
• Custom shapes
– Building interiors
Mapping - Tomorrow

Answers to Questions Asked by Viewers
During the Webinar
QUESTIONS LOG

Q&A: Get Under the Hood with Cognos Analytics R5
Q: We have upgraded to Cognos Analytics Release 5 and have lost the
capability to search for content. Any idea as to why this is occurring?
A: We would need to review your environment to determine the cause
for this. In the absence of a review, we recommend checking your
permissions and possibly reinstalling the software.
Q: Where can we get Cognos Analytics customizations?
A: You can get the information at IBM Knowledge at:
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.0.0/
com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ag_manage.doc/c_ag_manage_json.html
Q: How do I hide my content from other users in Cognos Analytics?
A: You can hide folder content the same way you did in previous
versions. You can also create user groups and customize the UI for
these groups.

Q: What happens if two groups have the same priority in Cognos
Analytics? Which one takes precedence?
A: You can assign the priority order. The higher priority will take
precedence.
Q: Is Google Chrome the primary supported browser for Cognos
Analytics?
A: It is supported, but not the primary support browser. IE, Chrome,
Safari and Firefox are all supported in Cognos Analytics. For full browser
details consult IBM Knowledge at:
http://www-969.ibm.com/software/reports/compatibility/clarity-
reports/report/html/prereqsForProduct?deliverableId=F1C726601C2F11
E69AAAC4D0C72C126B#sw-13

Q: Is there a description of the specifics of each of the features and
what they remove in Cognos Analytics?
A: Most of these can be found in the IBM documentation. Read the
following document to get information about the buttons in the
reporting tool:
https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.0.0/co
m.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.ug_cr_rptstd.doc/c_cr_rptstd_intrd_user_interfa
ce.html
Q: In extensions in Cognos Analytics, such as Quick Links, is it possible
to create a menu item that allows me to open an external website page
in a new window, instead of an iFrame?
A: We have not tried this, but would imagine it’s possible.

Q: When will IBM stop supporting Cognos BI 10.2.2 ?
A: Cognos BI 10.2 is scheduled to go end-of-life in April 2018.
Q: What is the difference between dashboard, story and report in
Cognos Analytics?
A: Dashboard is the new interactive visualization tool. You can drag and
drop elements onto the canvas and the tool will connect the objects
and provide recommendations on the best way to display the data.
Story is a new feature that allows you to skip copying reports and
visualizations to PowerPoint and present live data directly in Cognos.
Report is the evolution of Report Studio and Workspace Advanced. You
can create your complex, prompted, pixel-perfect reports using this
tool.
Q: Does navigation paths work with DMR package in Cognos Analytics?
A: You would need to use a data module to do this.

Q: If we transition from Cognos BI 10.2.2 to Cognos Analytics Release 5,
will existing Portal Tab dashboards need to be rewritten?
A: Yes, there is no migration path for Portal Tabs. The purpose of this
webinar was to demonstrate how to recreate the concept and
functionality of Portal Tabs in Cognos Analytics.
Q: Is there a way to do a “save” instead of a “save as” for reports in
Cognos Analytics?
A: Yes, use the down arrow next to the save icon, which should provide
this option.
Q: In dashboard visualizations in Cognos Analytics is there a way to
show numbers presented in currency format (with leading $ sign)?
A: Yes, you should be able to change this in the properties.

Q: Is it true that Workspace is totally going away? We use Workspace as
our home page, which contains reports.
A: Yes, Workspace will be going away. We recommend halting any
development using this tool and focus on the new dashboard tool.
Q: I saw that having something at priority 10, any other priority a user
might have will not show up, but what if portal user 3 had portal 1 and
portal 2 set both at priority 10? Would portal 1’s information show or
portal 2?
A: To be certain of the outcome, we would need to test this because
we’re not sure what logic is used to break a tie. It might be based on
the alpha sort of the groups.
Q: Is there any improvement regarding export/print dashboard in
Cognos Analytics?
A: Not that we are aware of. This is currently a tool for HTML only.

Q: If I've installed Cognos Analytics Release 5 without the samples
selected, can I run the installer again and pick it? Or will that affect my
current install?
A: Yes, you should be able to re-run the install and just select the
samples.
Q: Are the dashboard PowerCubes available in Cognos Analytics Release
5 and if so, what are their features?
A: No, they are not part of Release 5; however, they are part of Release
6, which was available on March 17, 2017.
Q: After upgrading to Cognos Analytics, the distribution lists that were
in place still work but no longer show for a new setup. How do we see
them for a new set up?
A: We would need to review your configuration to troubleshoot this.
Please contact us at info@senturus.com if you would like assistance.

Q: How do I share the GEO coded mapping rules? I’d like to map
latitude and longitude coordinates in our database to the new MapBox
visuals.
A: This is currently unavailable, you will need to wait for IBM and
MapBox to add this capability.
Q: Will you describe how I can disable the edit mode for a specific user
in Cognos Analytics Release 5?
A: You can create a group or role in the Cognos namespace and then
remove this option from reporting, dashboarding, data modules, etc.
Each area of Cognos Analytics has its own set of menus that can be
customized.
Q: Does the underlying security govern what you see on the nav bar in
Cognos Analytics?
A: No, you will need to use the user group customization to hide/show
any element on the nav bar.

Release 6 Update
• March 17 – expected
date
• BlueID SSO
• Additional mapping
capabilities
• Planning analytics
• Dashboard
PowerCubes

Expert guidance with the flexibility to help where you
need it
• Upgrade consultation: full upgrade assistance or
quick start
• Architectural guidance to transition from Portal Tabs
• Conversion of Query Studio reports to Report Studio
using Motio PI Pro
• V11 training (7 brand new classes available)
Cost: $4000/20 hours or $8000/40 hours
V11 Transition Assistance
35Copyright 2017 Senturus, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Our dedicated integration and upgrade staff provides expertise
and guidance to smoothly migrate your system to a stable platform
with minimal impact on end users.
• Quick Start
- Installation and configuration of development environment
plus full documentation
- $4499
• Full Upgrade Implementation
- Full service implementation across all appropriate
environments
- Free estimate with completion of short questionnaire
Read details here: http://www.senturus.com/ibm-cognos-upgrade-
services/. For more information contact: info@senturus.com or
888 601 6010 ext. 85
Upgrade Assistance – Two Options

What You Need to Know Before Upgrading to Cognos
Analytics
http://www.senturus.com/resources/what-you-need-to-
know-before-upgrading-to-cognos-analytics/
Preparing for Cognos Analytics V11
http://www.senturus.com/resources/preparing-for-cognos-
analytics-v11/
Data Acquisition Storytelling in Cognos Analytics
http://www.senturus.com/resources/data-acquisition-
storytelling-in-cognos-analytics/
Other Resources

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Copyright 2017 by Senturus, Inc.
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